The Hindu : Agassi struggles

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2002

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Agassi struggles

HOUSTON April 23. America's Andre Agassi fought off 19-year-old Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 for a first-round victory on Monday at the U.S. men's clay court championships.

Youzhny took the 31-year-old Agassi, to three break points in the ninth game of the third set before the No. 2 seed hit a drop shot winner for the advantage. Agassi then held with an ace to Youzhny's forehand corner.

Agassi broke Youzhny in the 10th game to extend his impressive start this season to a 16-2 matches record, including two titles.

In the final two points of the match, Youzhny double-faulted and Agassi won it at the first match point with a forehand return of a serve down the line.

``I saw him throw the ball behind his head and I knew he wanted to hit a safe serve at that point,'' Agassi said. ``It was match point and I took my chance.''

In other first-round matches Nikolay Davydenko of Russia defeated Germany's Lars Burgsmuller 6-1, 6-2, while Todd Martin of the United States beat Ingacio Hirigoyen of Argentina, 6-0, 6-4.

Agassi appeared ready to overpower Youzhny in the first set, breaking him in the fifth game with a backhand pass at break point for a 3-2 lead. They served out the set from that point with Agassi taking it at the first set point with an ace.

Youzhny kept eluding Agassi, who had 16 break points and converted only four. Youzhny fought off two break points to hold in the seventh game of the second set, and then broke Agassi in the eighth. Youzhny then served for the set and beat back two more break points before hitting a backhand drop shot winner at set point.

The results:

Andre Agassi bt Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 3-6, 6-4; Nikolay Davydenko bt Lars Burgsmuller 6-1, 6-2; Todd Martin bt Ingacio Hirigoyen 6-0, 6-4.

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